Fox’s Allyson Moyer on ‘Mina Abrams’, ‘Daisy’, Hollywood and more!

Audiences might flock to see Fox for the chance to see dream girl, Monroe Hayden, but they’ll leave their screens as fans of Allyson Moyer’s Mina Abrams, whose hope and courage echo the same wonder that all of us have.

We first meet Mina in the Dream World, where she has unknowingly found herself lost in, and it doesn’t take long before she’s swept up into a mysterious, mind warping adventure that has her (and by extension, all of us) questioning the world around her. I got to speak to Moyer, 20, about the surreal experience of joining the Daisy universe, watching show runner and fellow cast member, Monroe Hayden work alongside Adriana Escandon.

What made you want to audition for the role of Mina Abrams?

Allyson Moyer: I've loved acting for a long time now and in a way have had something to prove to myself since day one so I've always pushed myself to find different projects and opportunities.

 

You have a stage background, what's the difference between stage and film?

AM: With stage acting, you have to be able to think on your feet and improvise if you mess up but with film- you have more of a safety net in that aspect. And for me at least, the acting feels much more intimate because there isn't a bunch of people sitting there staring you down, it's just you and a handful of people focusing on their own piece of the project. 

Tell us a little about Mina, or at least what you’re allowed to tell us.

AM: Mina reminds me a lot of myself a few years ago. She’s really just trying to find her place in life. In the beginning you see her as a pretty timid person, she’s trying to find herself and viewers will come to realize that means psychologically figure out where she is in the Dream World and mentally figure out where she is and what it means to have a crush on Fox.

It sounds like she’s at a very critical point in her life as we all get to, eventually. Do her actions and decisions remind you of your experiences at that point?

AM: I don’t think her actions remind me of myself but some decisions, yes. It’s more internal fear that she has to be herself yet the subtle stubbornness and determination she has to do so, and I really utilized that in building her character up. I think its good we see in that stage.

I’ve been watching the show and I can’t help but feel like Fox will break her heart. The way your character is set up seems like there’s an impending doom in her future. I mean, SPOILER ALERT, we all know she doesn’t win Fox in the end (unless they change the story) because there’s Daisy but does that ever play as a factor for you?

AM: Honestly, I haven’t read the Daisy series and I only get scripts as we film them- it helps Mina stay believably confused if I truly don’t know what’ll happen, but to me, the whole series has given me a sense of doom. Even when things are beautiful, there’s a darkness lurking around. But I guess we’ll both have to wait and see exactly what happens with Mina and Fox.

Does it make you nervous that the books have a fan base that is very passionate about the characters?

AM: Like you wouldn't believe! I can't begin to explain the unique pressure that it is to have these fans around already loving something that I'm so new to but it drives me in such a positive way.

 

This is going to sound weird, since you’re very young, but have you ever been the ‘other girl’ like it seems Mina is or will become?

AM: Ok, this is where we get real! Yes, I’ve definitely been second best. I guess I have one of those personalities that isn’t compatible with just anyone and I have yet to find someone willing to step up to the plate and take, faults and all.

Both the show and the books are about loving and accepting who you are and it seems that message consistently inspires young people (women especially). Why do you think young women relate to that more than men?

AM: I feel like the reason women relate to it is because of how other women make us feel. I think men are a lot better at not caring about what society and other people say about them because look at how we [women] were all raised! We have the media telling us, left and right, to be this and that. There are magazine covers with titles about how to please men and what beauty tips men like. It’s this horrible cycle just reinforcing the same crap about women being the ones that need to compete with one another to please men.

I love you for mentioning that! You’re so right. This leads me to Fox. The show is revolved around two women. How do the women in this show treat each other? Is it different from the shows we normally see with women together?

AM: It’s completely different. Mina and Fox aren’t catty and secretly hating each other. Their relationship is fairly innocent, in my opinion, even when certain jokes or innuendos are made. You can rely on Mina to blush and get shy and make the whole thing rather sweet. You’ll see the relationship grow from that innocent attraction to something different and it’s captivating.

How are they innocent? Or, rather, how is their relationship innocent? Being good? Because that sounds a bit boring.

AM: I mean more so that the relationship is in those beginning stages where everything’s simple. As time passes, questions get more serious and that darkness gets closer. Trust me, with Fox, nothing really is innocent.

Ooh! I heard behind the scenes you and Monroe laugh a lot. It seems that Hollywood uses that bitchy and catty platform for women because that’s how women treat each other but from what I hear, you and the other girls get along really well.

AM: We have a great relationship. At first, I felt a little self conscience. It didn’t take long, though, for me to warm up. Now it’s a great time! It’s so nice to work with people I genuinely like and appreciate. It makes the work so much easier and the icky times I had to lay down in the woods in a dress all the more worth it!

What's it like to work with her [Monroe]?

 

AM: At first she completely intimidated me because she has this really quiet and intense vibe but we get along so well, it's so easy to work with her and Adrianna because we mesh really well.

 She writes some of the episodes and has been given the responsibility of forming the show’s vision. How would you describe those things?

 

AM: Every script I've gotten so far I've loved. She really knows how to bring forward these powerful female roles and I'm so lucky to be a part of that.

 How do she and Adriana Escandon work together?

AM: The reason they work so well together and end up with a great product is because they don't always get along. Sometimes I watch them go back and forth because their conflicting visions always end up coexisting beautifully.

I heard the worst part of filming was being on location because you can’t control nature like bugs and heat.

AM: The heat was awful! One day we actually had to stop early because I basically lost the ability to form sentences properly and forgot all my lines. The bugs are more annoying but I will say it was some added entertainment when the bugs came around Monroe because they either scared her or completely shook her out of focus. It was kind of nice to see someone else being attacked by those tiny beasts.

Because we want to know…

Is there anything going on between you and Monroe? The fans want to know! I mean they ship you two together! You’re name is Allyroe.

AM: I know! Unfortunately for the fans that ship us, there isn’t anything going on.

So are you dating anyone?

AM: No way, I’m forever alone! My plan is to get a hedgehog named Sir Henry and then eventually die alone with about 20 of them. That’s like a half joke but I think I have to relearn a few things before I’m ready for a real relationship.

Any dating advice?

AM: Don’t be me?

 

Can you see yourself getting married?

AM: Far down the road, sure but he’ll have to be super special and also, super patient to be willing to deal with me for the rest of his life!

What kind of wedding dress?

AM: I would die for a custom Cristian Siriano

 

Would you ever…

Do a stoner movie?

AM: If I liked the story and the character, then sure!

Go on Broadway?

AM: I would give anything for that but I can’t sing or dance well so I’m not sure how much that would work.

Go on a reality dating show?

AM: I don’t think I could. Seems way too fake.

Play a super-hero?

AM: I’m not sure because I’m not the most agile or athletic.

Date another actor?

AM: I would love to date another actor because that would be such a strong connection to have someone.

Marry a ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ winner?

AM: I would love to but only if he made me feel like the ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’.

 

Photos taken by Adriana Escandon